This was a shocker.
The tumultuous marriage of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown - which withstood drug addiction, Brown's numerous arrests, the decline of Houston's once-sparkling image and domestic abuse allegations - is coming to an end.
A publicist for Houston confirmed to The Associated Press that the Grammy-winning, superstar singer had filed for divorce from her husband Bobby Brown, after 14 years of marriage.
Publicist Nancy Seltzer declined to reveal where or when Houston filed the divorce papers, and said the singer had no statement to make.
"I can just confirm that she has filed for divorce," Seltzer said Wednesday.
The couple, who live in Alpharetta, Ga., have one child, a 13-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
When Houston and Brown wed in 1992, the match seemed to outsiders to be a mismatch. Houston - once one of the best-selling singers in history - was a glamorous, pop superstar with a super-clean, princess-like persona, whereas Brown, who rose to fame as a member of the boy band New Edition before striking out on his own, was a sometimes coarse R&B singer with a more streetwise image.
But as the years wore on, it would become hard to determine which one was more troubled. Though Bobby Brown - best known for hits like "My Prerogative" and "Every Little Step" - would be arrested numerous times for drugs and alcohol, Houston's own battles with substance abuse sullied her image.
Together, the two were a tabloid editor's dream. When Brown was released from a stretch in jail a few years ago, an ecstatic Houston greeted him by jumping into his arms and throwing her arms and legs around him before a throng of fans and media.
And in the now infamous 2002 ABC interview with Diane Sawyer, an erratic-sounding and wan-looking Houston, with a profusely sweating Brown by her side, admitted dabbling in drugs but denied using crack, then uttered the now famous phrase: "Crack is wack."
The couple separated for a time a few years ago, but their marriage endured, despite rumors and speculation. Their life was put on display last year with Brown's reality series, "Being Bobby Brown" on Bravo. The show actually made Brown look like a stable influence, while a jittery Houston was on display; the couple often crudely talked about their marriage and love life.
But earlier this year, the speculation of a possible split intensified. Brown's sister made headlines when she alleged in a National Enquirer interview that Houston was addicted to crack. She also supplied photos of what she said was Houston's bathroom, littered with garbage and evidence of drug use.
Recently, however, Houston has made attempts to clean up her public image. On Tuesday night, she attended a public event with cousin Dionne Warwick and mogul and mentor Clive Davis in Beverly Hills. And she is working on an album of new material; she hasn't released a record since 2002.
Her musician husband recently reunited with his old soul group New Edition for a show at July's Essence Musical Festival. The show got mixed reviews from the audience when Brown jumped suggestively around the stage and made vulgar remarks about his sex life with Houston.
A publicist for Houston confirmed to The Associated Press that the Grammy-winning, superstar singer had filed for divorce from her husband Bobby Brown, after 14 years of marriage.
Publicist Nancy Seltzer declined to reveal where or when Houston filed the divorce papers, and said the singer had no statement to make.
"I can just confirm that she has filed for divorce," Seltzer said Wednesday.
The couple, who live in Alpharetta, Ga., have one child, a 13-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
When Houston and Brown wed in 1992, the match seemed to outsiders to be a mismatch. Houston - once one of the best-selling singers in history - was a glamorous, pop superstar with a super-clean, princess-like persona, whereas Brown, who rose to fame as a member of the boy band New Edition before striking out on his own, was a sometimes coarse R&B singer with a more streetwise image.
But as the years wore on, it would become hard to determine which one was more troubled. Though Bobby Brown - best known for hits like "My Prerogative" and "Every Little Step" - would be arrested numerous times for drugs and alcohol, Houston's own battles with substance abuse sullied her image.
Together, the two were a tabloid editor's dream. When Brown was released from a stretch in jail a few years ago, an ecstatic Houston greeted him by jumping into his arms and throwing her arms and legs around him before a throng of fans and media.
And in the now infamous 2002 ABC interview with Diane Sawyer, an erratic-sounding and wan-looking Houston, with a profusely sweating Brown by her side, admitted dabbling in drugs but denied using crack, then uttered the now famous phrase: "Crack is wack."
The couple separated for a time a few years ago, but their marriage endured, despite rumors and speculation. Their life was put on display last year with Brown's reality series, "Being Bobby Brown" on Bravo. The show actually made Brown look like a stable influence, while a jittery Houston was on display; the couple often crudely talked about their marriage and love life.
But earlier this year, the speculation of a possible split intensified. Brown's sister made headlines when she alleged in a National Enquirer interview that Houston was addicted to crack. She also supplied photos of what she said was Houston's bathroom, littered with garbage and evidence of drug use.
Recently, however, Houston has made attempts to clean up her public image. On Tuesday night, she attended a public event with cousin Dionne Warwick and mogul and mentor Clive Davis in Beverly Hills. And she is working on an album of new material; she hasn't released a record since 2002.
Her musician husband recently reunited with his old soul group New Edition for a show at July's Essence Musical Festival. The show got mixed reviews from the audience when Brown jumped suggestively around the stage and made vulgar remarks about his sex life with Houston.
